10/26 Pitchers Vs Hitters Matchups – Game 3 of World Series Vs LA

Game Three: World Series

While the Red Sox are heavily favored at this point, there’s still two games to win against the Dodgers. For LA, they’re back home where the nights are in the 70s, so no ski mask for Yasiel Puig. And with right-hander Porcello on the mound, Dave Roberts will actually give starts to his top 4 HR hitters in Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal.

In Game 2, David Price pulled off his second consecutive Win in a playoff start. In the 4th inning was a bases loaded scare, but he pitched around it by holding them to just 2 runs. One inning later the offense rallied with 2 outs (again), and JD’s 2 RBI single was the difference as the last 16 Dodgers batters were retired to end the game. That was the most retired to end the game by an AL team, since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956.

If Price does get another start, then that means the Dodgers win two in LA to force the series back to Boston. But with Cora, there should be no surprise whatsoever if he pitches in relief at some point here in the City of Angels.

Rick Porcello takes the mound for the Red Sox. Porcello’s first three outings in the 2018 postseason were electric, two scoreless 8th innings and a 5 inning 1-Run start against the Yankees with the Sox clinching trip to the ALCS. Since then he has pitched just once, pitching poorly in Houston as he gave up 4 ER in 4 innings. But in that No Decision, Jackie Bradley Jr & co. rallied toward a thrilling 8-6 Win that gave them a 3-1 series lead.

While Cora has been the “Mad Scientist”, knowing all the right moves for the bullpen, still would like some more length out of Porcello. Saying that even with yesterday being an off day. He hasn’t pitched more than 5.2 innings since way back on August 20 vs the Indians, where he went 7 innings. Everything is on the table tonight. Many expect Cora to go full throttle, potentially pitching Eovaldi in the 8th inning again to nail down a commanding 3-0 lead. Then he would figure out the Game 4 starter from that point on.

Walker Buehler takes the ball for the Dodgers. The 24 year old right hander is the youngest Dodgers pitcher to start a WS game since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. Vuehler came out of nowhere this year to post a 2.62 ERA in 24 games (23 starts), a ridiculous opp .193 avg (95 Hits in 137.1 innings), striking out 151 batters, and walking just 37 which amounts to an 0.96 ERA. The high flying Sox offense has quite the test tonight at 8pm.

However there might be a gameplan for the Sox to go on. Buehler has made three postseason starts thus far in the postseason. The first two were not so great, the Dodgers losing both games. His last one (Game 7), he limited the damage but was unable to go that far into the game.

Vs Braves – 5 innings, 2 Hits, 5 Runs, HR, 3 Walks, 7 Ks

Vs Brewers – 7 innings, 6 Hits, 4 Runs, HR, Walk, 8 Ks

Vs Brewers – 4.1 innings, 6 Hits, Run, HR, 0 Walks, 7 Ks

Rick Porcello— Career vs Los Angeles Dodgers in 2 starts, 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA. In those two starts, he has given up 7 ER off of a hefty amount of 18 Hits in 10.2 innings, walking three and striking out four. The two starts both took place at Dodger Stadium, taking place in 2010 (2 ER in 6 innings) and 2011 (5 ER in 4.2 innings).